Urban/Rural Straight

During this part of the exam, you are expected to make regular traffic checks and maintain a safe following distance. Your vehicle should be centered in the proper lane (right-most lane), and you should keep up with the flow of traffic but not exceed the posted speed limit.

Urban/Rural Lane Changes

During the multiple lane portion of the urban and rural sections, you will be asked to change lanes to the left, and then back to the right. You should make the necessary traffic checks first, then use proper signals and smoothly change lanes when it is safe to do so.

Expressways

Before entering an expressway:

Check traffic.

Use proper signals.

Merge smoothly into the proper lane of traffic.

Once on the expressway:

Maintain proper lane positioning, vehicle spacing and vehicle speed.

Continue to check traffic thoroughly in all directions.

You will be instructed to change lanes:

Make necessary traffic checks.

Use proper signals.

Change lanes smoothly when it is safe to do so.

When exiting an expressway:

Make necessary traffic checks.

Use proper signals.

Decelerate smoothly in the exit lane.

Once on the exit ramp, continue to decelerate within the lane markings and maintain adequate spacing between your vehicle and other vehicles.

Stop/Start

You will be asked to pull your vehicle over to the side of the road and stop as if you were going to get out and check something on your vehicle. You must check traffic thoroughly in all directions and move to the rightmost lane or shoulder of road.

As you prepare for the stop:

Check traffic.

Activate your right turn signal.

Decelerate smoothly, brake evenly, change gears as necessary.

Bring your vehicle to a full stop without coasting.

Once stopped:

Vehicle must be parallel to the curb or shoulder of the road and safely out of the traffic flow.

Steer and accelerate smoothly into the proper lane when safe to do so.

Once your vehicle is back into the flow of traffic, cancel the left turn signal.

Curves

When approaching a curve:

Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.

Before entering the curve, reduce speed so further braking or shifting is not required in the curve.

Keep vehicle in the lane.

Continue checking traffic in all directions.

Remember: A safe following distance is calculated by 1 second for every 10ft of vehicle length. If you're going over 40mph, you should add an additional second. If you are following any closer than this, you will be penalized.

Violating any traffic laws during your driving exam could be grounds for an automatic failure. Pay very close attention to your speed and make sure you never exceed the posted limit.

Keep your eyes moving! Don't fixate in any location. You should glance at your mirrors every few seconds. You may want to exaggerate your head movements to be sure the examiner can see you checking the mirrors.

We've seen this many times throughout the program. Always slow down before entering a turn or curve.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Review Questions - Click On The Picture To Begin...

When the examiner asks you to make a lane change, you should:

Make necessary traffic checks

Use proper signals

Change lanes when it is safe to do so

All of these answers are true

Quote From The CDL Manual:

You will be instructed to change lanes:

- Make necessary traffic checks.- Use proper signals.- Change lanes smoothly when it is safe to do so.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

The examiner will ask you to make a lane change, but you're expected to perform the lane change safely. The examiner will not check for traffic before asking you to make the lane change.

Next

When approaching a curve, you should:

Depress the clutch pedal and coast through the turn

Continue slowing down during the curve, and downshift about half way through the curve

Slow down before entering the curve as to avoid braking or shifting during the curve

Continue to slow down throughout the entire duration of the curve

Quote From The CDL Manual:

When approaching a curve:

- Check traffic thoroughly in all directions.- Before entering the curve, reduce speed so further braking or shifting is not required in the curve.- Keep vehicle in the lane.- Continue checking traffic in all directions.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Always slow down and get into the correct gear before the curve and never shift during the curve. It's better to slow down too much than not enough.

Prev

Next

While stopped on the side of the road, you should:

Place the truck into a low gear before releasing the clutch

Be sure you're not blocking any road signs

Keep the right turn signal activated

Set the trailer brakes only

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Once stopped:

- Vehicle must be parallel to the curb or shoulder of the road and safely out of the traffic flow.- Vehicle should not be blocking driveways, fire hydrants, intersections, signs, etc.- Cancel the turn signal.- Activate the four-way emergency flashers.- Apply the parking brake.- Move the gear shift to neutral or park.- Remove your feet from the brake and clutch pedals.

Prev

Next

When stopping your vehicle, you should:

Decelerate quickly without changing gears

Place the transmission in neutral before braking

Bring your vehicle to a full stop without coasting

Leave the truck in gear, but depress the clutch pedal to avoid stalling while slowing down

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Always slow down smoothly and use downshifting to slow the vehicle. You never want to be out of gear or leave the clutch pedal depressed while slowing down.

Prev

Next

When pulling back onto the roadway from the shoulder, you should deactivate your four-way flashers:

After you have re-entered the traffic lane

For approximately 30 seconds after re-entering traffic flow

Before rolling forward to re-enter the traffic flow

Once you are in the traffic lane and up to highway speeds

Quote From The CDL Manual:

When instructed to resume:

- Check traffic and mirrors thoroughly in all directions.- Turn off the four-way flashers.- Activate the left turn signal.- When traffic permits, release the parking brake and pull straight ahead.- Do not turn the wheel before your vehicle moves.- Check traffic from all directions, especially to the left.- Steer and accelerate smoothly into the proper lane when safe to do so.- Once your vehicle is back into the flow of traffic, cancel the left turn signal.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Before you begin moving forward, you should activate the left turn signal so other motorists know you're getting ready to re-enter the traffic lane.

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